Making a Tinderbox (The Tinderbox Tales Book 1) by Emma Sterner-Radley

Author:Emma Sterner-Radley [Sterner-Radley, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Heartsome Publishing
Published: 2017-10-13T04:00:00+00:00

Elise sniggered at Nessa’s attempts to open the door to their room. Drunk on too many ales and exhilarated by her ridiculous attempt to ride the pedal cycle, Nessa tried to get the key into the lock and had to give up.

Elise snatched the key from her. “I will do it as I am less inebra… inabr… inibriated.”

“Thank you. The door hates me,” Nessa slurred.

Hunter misjudged the distance between himself and the corridor wall, causing him to crash into it more than the suave leaning he had probably been aiming for. “So tired. I am going to go in search of my room. What floor am I on?”

“Um. Third, I think,” Nessa replied.

“Third?” He seemed to ponder it while he adjusted his waistcoat. “Yes, third.”

Elise managed to unlock the door and nearly fell through as it opened.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” Hunter mumbled.

Elise looked at him with scepticism. “Not much to thank us for. It was merely some bad pies, far too much ale, and then you two falling about on that cycle and nearly hitting a man rolling his vegetable cart home.”

Hunter shook his head violently. “It was something to thank you for because it was an evening where I could unwind and be honest. That is the base of our alliance now, is it not? We are honest with each other. All the time.” He looked directly at Elise when he spoke those last words.

She swallowed, wishing she dared to be completely honest with him. “Right, yes. Of course. Anyway, we should go in before Nessa falls over. Goodnight, Hunter, and thank you for the pie.”

He inclined his head. “Thank you for buying most of the ale. Have sweet dreams.” Then he poked Nessa’s shoulder. “Make sure no nightmares haunt my new friend’s sleep. I am making that your official duty.”

Nessa gave the traditional raised fist of the Arclid Navy. “Aye, aye, captain!”

Hunter guffawed and then trotted off while humming the Navy’s official song.

Nessa followed Elise into their room and stood there, smiling at her.

“What?” Elise asked while closing the door.

“You’re so pretty. I love your hair like this. It was beautiful before but this… this looks more like the real Elise.”

Nessa ran her fingers through her hair, getting her fingers stuck on a snag on one side. She abandoned the snag and began drunkenly patting Elise’s hair instead. “It’s so thick and nice to touch. Whoever ends up as your lover in the city, they will be lucky to get to play with this soft, short hair. Lucky, lucky them.”

Nessa let go of her hair and began clumsily taking her coat off and hanging it up. Elise was left standing there, dismayed to find that her heart ached at the thought of Nessa not even considering herself an option. Or perhaps she didn’t want to be her lover?

Perhaps I should simply ask her.

No, their friendship and status as roommates were essential to Elise. Nessa had quickly become her safety. Her home. Nessa wasn’t as much of

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